Early in the recording sessions for 5ive O’Clock Charlie’s fourth album, producer and recording engineer Jeremy Stephens didn’t think they had enough rockers. And he told the Huntsville band’s singer, guitarist and songwriter Mike Roberts just that.

“The had four or five songs in the can,” Stephens says, “and they were really great songs. They’re typical Mike Roberts. Very well written and they’re very deep lyrically. They say a lot. But I felt in addition to that they needed to add a couple of, you know, ass-shakers. And I think it kind of pissed him off a little bit, like I didn’t like his songs. But I didn’t mean that at all.”

Maybe three weeks later, there was another recording session at Stephen’s Clearwave Recording Studios in Decatur. Roberts brought in a cigar-box guitar he’d recently acquired to the studio that day. He plugged it into his amp and started ripping a gnarly slide riff. That riff became “Wise Men and Fools,” which became the album’s title track and opening track.

“I remember when he got through playing it,” Stephens says, “Mike looked back at me in the control room and said, ‘Is that good enough for you, asshole?’ and I gave him the thumbs up.”

Released on Stephen’s 10 Ton Records indie label, the “Wise Men and Fools” album is a vigorous and vibrant album for a band to make 35 years into their existence. And it proves what many in-the-know fans of Huntsville music have long known: 5ive O’Clock Charlie is an essential local band.